Craft your reality with simple frames that shape perception
Every storyteller knows the power of the frame: it’s the lens through which the audience experiences the tale. Think of a photograph tinted gold—suddenly the scene feels nostalgic, warm. In communication, frames shape how people interpret information. A “manageably easy” tone makes even complex tasks approachable; a “secret” frame piques curiosity; a “monumental” frame elevates urgency and importance. The secret sauce? Frames don’t lie—they guide focus.
Researchers have found that calling a tax an “estate tax” leads most people to agree with it, while renaming it the “death tax” flips public opinion against it, even though both refer to the same levy. That’s framing in action. Or consider the chicken-liver pâté famously marketed as “The French Discover Their Native Cuisine,” capturing the mysterious allure of peasant cooking.
When crafting your own frames, remember three pillars: monumental (why it really matters), manageable (how it’s easy), and mysterious (what other people are wondering). Combine these to create a triple-impact frame. Want to launch a newsletter? Try “Join the secret community transforming how 1,000 CEOs spend their Mondays” (monumental + mysterious). Experiment with different permutations and you’ll draw attention, focus minds, and guide decisions.
Dynamic framing also relies on timing. A frame about “instant relief today” works best for immediate needs, while “the next decade’s breakthrough” appeals to long-term planners. By choosing the right frame, you’re not tricking anyone—you’re simply meeting them at the perfect mental and emotional doorway to invite them in.
Pick one of your big ideas and lead with a frame that speaks first to someone’s sense of possibility (“you could be free of…”), ease (“you can start in five minutes”), or intrigue (“what if I told you…”). Deliver that frame in your next email subject line or the opening of a conversation. Notice how people lean forward—or lean back. Then fine-tune the promise and timing until it feels just right. Make your frames work for you.
What You'll Achieve
You’ll guide attention and shape interpretation before any facts even register, ensuring your ideas land exactly as intended. Externally you’ll see more curiosity and engagement; internally you’ll feel more confidence in your messaging.
Build a frame that bends reality
Pick a dominant benefit
Decide what’s most important: impact, ease, or mystery. For a health app pitch, for instance, choose either “instant relief” (manageable), “stops chronic pain” (monumental), or “the secret weapon you never knew you needed” (mysterious).
Use it in the first sentence
Lead with your chosen frame. If you go monumental, start with “Imagine curing back pain forever…” If manageable, “In 30 seconds you’ll learn one stretch that helps…”
Test and tweak
Share your frame with three colleagues or friends and note which version sparks the strongest “hook.” Refine until it feels impossible to ignore.
Reflection Questions
- Which frame am I usually defaulting to—monumental, manageable, or mysterious?
- Where in my communications could I try a different frame?
- How did people react when I offered a mysterious promise last?
Personalization Tips
- A teacher could advertise a new lesson plan as “the magic trick that doubles student engagement” (mysterious).
- A fitness coach might say, “Transform your mornings with 2 easy moves” (manageable).
- An activist could call their campaign “The movement that will rewrite history” (monumental).
Influence Is Your Superpower: The Science of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good Things Happen
Ready to Take Action?
Get the Mentorist app and turn insights like these into daily habits.